Dynamically multiplexing user sessions among multiple terminal devices

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described for dynamically multiplexing user sessions among multiple terminal devices. A switch device establishes a session with a host device on behalf of a user logged in to a first terminal device communicatively coupled with the switch device. The switch device forwards packets received from the host device to the first terminal device, the packets associated with the session. The switch device may receive a selection of a second terminal for association with the session while maintaining the session with the host device on behalf of the user. The switch device forwards at least a portion of the packets associated with the session from the host device to the second terminal device responsive to receiving the selection of the second terminal device.

1. A system for dynamically multiplexing sessions among terminal devices, comprising:
 a host device configured to host a session associated with a user; 
 a first terminal device; 
 a second terminal device; and 
 a switch device communicatively coupled with the host device and the first and second terminal devices, the switch device configured to:
 establish a session between the switch device and the host device on behalf of a user associated with the first terminal device; 
 forward packets received from the host device to the first terminal device, the packets associated with the session; 
 receive a selection of the second terminal device for association with the session while maintaining the session with the host device on behalf of the user; and 
 forward at least a portion of the packets associated with the session from the host device to the second terminal device responsive to receiving the selection of the second terminal device. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the switch device is further configured to:
 transmit at least the portion of the packets associated with the session to both the first terminal device and the second terminal device substantially concurrently. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the switch device is further configured to receive the selection of the second terminal device by:
 receiving a request to share a portion of the session with the second terminal device. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the portion of the packets forwarded by the switch device to the second terminal device comprises data associated with the portion of the session to be shared with the second terminal device. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the switch device is further configured to receive the selection of the second terminal device by the switch device by:
 determining that the user has logged off of the first terminal device and logged on to the second terminal device. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the switch device is further configured to:
 maintain the session with the host device at the switch device on behalf of the user after the user has logged off of the first terminal device and before the user has logged on to the second terminal device. 
 
     
     
       7. A method of dynamically multiplexing session data among terminal devices, comprising:
 establishing a session between a switch device and a host device on behalf of a user associated with a first terminal device communicatively coupled with the switch device; 
 forwarding at the switch device packets received from the host device to the first terminal device, the packets associated with the session; 
 receiving a selection of a second terminal device for association with the session while maintaining the session with the host device on behalf of the user; and 
 forwarding at the switch device at least a portion of the packets associated with the session from the host device to the second terminal device responsive to receiving the selection of the second terminal device. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the forwarding at least the portion of the packets associated with the established session from the host device to the second terminal device further comprises:
 transmitting at least the portion of the packets associated with the session to both the first terminal device and the second terminal device substantially concurrently. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the receiving the selection of the second terminal device comprises:
 receiving a request to share a portion of the session with the second terminal device. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the portion of the packets forwarded to the second terminal device comprises data associated with the portion of the session to be shared with the second terminal device. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the receiving the selection of the second terminal device comprises:
 determining that the user has logged off of the first terminal device and logged on to the second terminal device. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 maintaining the session with the host device at the switch device on behalf of the user after the user has logged off of the first terminal device and before the user has logged on to the second terminal device. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 terminating forwarding the packets associated with the session between the host device and the first terminal device in response to the determination that the user has logged off of the first terminal device. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 identifying at least one event associated with the user at the switching device; and 
 applying a set of rules to the at least one event to identify at least one instruction to forward at least the portion of the packets associated with the session to the second terminal device; 
 wherein the receiving the selection of the second terminal device comprises the identification of the instruction. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving the packets associated with the session from the host device at the switching device; and 
 modifying a destination address in the packets received from the host device from an address associated with the switching device to an address associated with at least one of the first terminal device or the second terminal device. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the switch device comprises a server. 
     
     
       17. A switch device apparatus, comprising:
 a session module configured to establish a session between the switch device apparatus and a host device on behalf of a user associated with a first terminal device communicatively coupled with the switch device apparatus; 
 a switching module configured to forward packets from the host device to the first terminal device, the packets associated with the session; and 
 a terminal selection module configured receive a selection of a second terminal device for association with the session while the session module maintains the session with the host device on behalf of the user; 
 wherein the switching module is further configured to forward at least a portion of the packets associated with the session from the host device to the second terminal device responsive to receiving the selection of the second terminal device. 
 
     
     
       18. The switch device apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the switching module is further configured to:
 transmit at least the portion of the packets associated with the session to both the first terminal device and the second terminal device substantially concurrently. 
 
     
     
       19. The switch device apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the terminal selection module is further configured to receive the selection of the second terminal device by:
 receiving a request to share a portion of the session with the second terminal device. 
 
     
     
       20. The switch device apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the portion of the packets forwarded to the second terminal device comprises data associated with the portion of the session to be shared with the second terminal device. 
     
     
       21. The switch device apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the terminal selection module is further configured to receive the selection of the second terminal device by:
 determining that the user has logged off of the first terminal device and logged on to the second terminal device. 
 
     
     
       22. The switch device apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the session module is further configured to:
 maintain the session with the host device at the switch device on behalf of the user after the user has logged off of the first terminal and before the user has logged on to the second terminal device. 
 
     
     
       23. The switch device apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the switching module is further configured to:
 terminate forwarding the packets associated with the session between the host device and the first terminal device in response to the determination that the user has logged off of the first terminal device. 
 
     
     
       24. The switch device apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the terminal selection module is further configured to:
 identify at least one event associated with the user at the switching device; and 
 apply a set of rules to the at least one event to identify at least one instruction to forward at least the portion of the packets associated with the session to the second terminal device; 
 wherein the receiving the selection of the second terminal device comprises the identification of the switching instruction. 
 
     
     
       25. The switch device apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the switching module is further configured to:
 receive the packets associated with the session from the host device; and 
 modify a destination address in the packets received from the host device from an address associated with the switching device to an address associated with at least one of the first terminal device or the second terminal device.